It’s safe to say that the Rossoneri have been nowhere near relevant in Europe in the past decade. The most successful team in the competition hasn’t won the tournament for nearly two decades. What’s more concerning is that AC Milan didn’t make it past the knockout phase, losing to Feyenoord.
Milan has failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, leaving fans disappointed. Can it ever challenge for the trophy again? Yes, but it seems that AC Milan is currently stuck in a limbo.
Nit a European Favourite
With the last CL trophy for Milan coming in 2007 (the 7th CL title for the club), Milan has never managed to catch even a whiff of the final. The team has lost any ground it had in Europe. The once storied winning teams are all but forgotten. If anyone checks betting sites accepting PayPay deposit and withdrawals, Milan isn’t even among the favourites for the Serie A trophy.
It sounds grim, but that’s the reality so far. Just a few seasons ago, Milan was an Italian champion and among the top-seeded clubs in the Champions League. But managerial changes and bad investments have pushed the club into obscurity, with many believing it’ll never recover. But we’ve seen many sports stories where clubs have turned things around, and a juggernaut such as AC Milan can do the same.
European Relevance Through Italian Domination
Before the team can become relevant in Europe again, it needs to secure that through Italian domination. It wasn’t that long ago when AC Milan was the strongest Italian team. The 19th title came in the 21-22 season with Stefano Pioli at the wheel. Pioli was let go last season after a string of bad results, and the team has never managed to recover.
Paulo Fonseca was signed on as a new manager, but his adventure didn’t last long. Fonseca got the boot after 24 matches, being sacked just before the end of 2024. His compatriot Sergio Conceicao got the job next, being appointed on the same day. Not a lot of changes happened, and with the same squad, Milan couldn’t even qualify for Europe next year.
With another Europe-less season ahead and wild transfer rumours, AC Milan has got its work cut out for it. The first thing management needs to do is consider a manager for the long run. Conceicao didn’t turn the tide like many thought he would. If the team wants to challenge in the Serie A and in Europe, it needs to start with the manager.
In fact, the Portuguese tactician was sacked just yesterday (May 29) with Massimiliano Allegri set to return to the Rossoneri bench finally after over eleven years. The ex Juventus boss has great European experience with Milan and also with the Bianconeri. The aim is to rebuild the team starting from key players such as Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Mike Maignan, and even Tijjani Reijnders, if the club manages to resist the strong interest from Premier League side Manchester City.
The good news about the club is that no one’s sugarcoating things. As defender Matteo Gabbia said at the last press conference, “The season has been negative for everyone”. The year might get even worse, with rumours swirling about the strong interest of Manchester City in one of the team’s best performers – Tijjani Reijnders. The English outfit, reportedly, want to sign the Dutchman before starting the FIFA Club World Cup competition in mid-June.
Departures Ahead
There’s been speculation that Reijnders and Rafael Leao have played the last minutes in the AC Milan shirt against Bologna in the cup final. Manchester City are very keen in the midfielder, who fits Pep Guardiola’s system. The ex Az Alkmaar player has had a great season in Serie A, where he was among the best midfielders.
Leao may not have had the best season from a statistical point of view. He ran the league a few years ago, but has had on-and-off performances ever since. Milan can cash in on the Portuguese forward, with Bayern Munich seemingly interested in his services.
While no Milan fan wants to see the best players leave, there’s no question that the club can cash in a nice sum of money. With no CL next season, AC Milan can use that money to reinforce key positions.
Other possible departures include Kalulu, who Juventus is keen on signing permanently long-term, Colombo, Bennacer, Saelemaekers, Pobega, and Yacine Adli (who will return from his loan experience at Fiorentina). They can bring in decent money, which Milan must invest smartly to get back at the top in Italy.
Dice Reinforcements Needed
If all of these departures are reality, Milan must plan ahead for reinforcements. One notable rumour has been a possible return to Italy for Federico Chiesa, who hasn’t found a spot for himself in Liverpool. Milan is supposedly interested in the winger, who has undeniable quality. Plus, he can come in for cheap, probably at a cut-price deal.
While Milan needs reinforcements in every position, the club is looking to secure a winger and a midfielder first, or a few. Venezia was demoted to Serie B, but many young players have made a name for themselves. One of them is Nicolussi Caviglia, a young midfielder who probably would like to stick around in Serie A. He’s on Milan’s radar, and similar to Chiesa, he could be available for a good price.
The defence needs new faces, too. It’s one of the most problematic areas for the squad. So far, there haven’t been many rumours about defenders linked to AC Milan. It all depends on the budget, but in order to get back to relevance and challenge for Europe, Milan is in dire need for new players.
Long Work Ahead
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will Milan’s new squad. The club is heading toward a refresh, with a new coach at the helm and obviously a lot of new players. It will be years before Milan can challenge for Europe. That’s not what fans want to hear, but winning the CL title requires depth, and at the moment, AC Milan doesn’t have it.
It’s important to start with baby steps, and this summer is key for what lies ahead. Bit by bit, Milan can build a squad and eventually get back to where it belongs.
